The corporate cityscape has been transformed, says Brennan, with stylish housing developments and reclaimed factory spaces supporting the thriving theatre scene and new art galleries like the Station Museum.

The number of entertainment options per capita, the recreational opportunities (amount of green space, the cost and number of outdoor activities, and the number of pro and college sports teams), the unemployment rates, and the net migration (the number of people who relocated in 2011), were all taken into account.

Jobs are definitely cool. And cities that are affordable should get extra bonus points - which they did. But Houston, Washington, and Los Angeles?

Something in their rubric must be missing. A mysterious eighth data point. But, what would it be?

Sonya James is a multimedia producer based in New York. With creativity and innovation in mind, she speaks to diverse voices on topics from racism in the art world to the patriotic nature of southern food. She holds a Masters Degree in Community Development.